62 



chamber that are to break the sulphur, or keep it from forming a coherent mass, 

 before falling upon the floor, which is pierced with fine holes. The sulphur sifts 

 through these holes in the floor of the upper chamber into the one below, when it is 

 acted upon by the wind from the bellows, and driven in fine dust through the tube, 

 forming an almost invisible cloud that rests upon all parts of the vine, and lodging 

 most permanently in the fine gauze like web of the under side of the leaves, which 

 also form the principal lodgment for the sporules of the mildew. The vapor of sul- 

 phuric acid is so slowly formed that it exercises no appreciably injurious influence 

 upon the vine, but is sufficiently active to destroy the fungi and drive away the thrips. 

 The section of the magazine (Plate No. 69) gives a clear idea of the interior arrange- 

 ment, which will enable mechanics to construct them without much difficulty. The 

 valve of the bellows must be different from tlie ordinary construction, to enable it 

 to act when held in any position. A few of these apparatuses have been imported 

 by Mr. P. B. Mead, for patterns from which others can be very cheaply made by any 

 skillful tinman. They can be obtained from him at the cost of importation. A more 

 particular description of these and some others, will be given in Landmarks. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE VINE. 



Of these, there are very few that have caused much damage, ai)d the vine may 

 claim a degree of exemption from destructive enemies beyond any other fruit. 



The first that makes its appearance in the spring is the ■pyraleoftlie vine, and 

 without attention it will sometimes become very destructive. It winds the young 

 shoots with silk just as they begin to put forth, and eats the leaves, and often the 

 rudimentary bunch before inflorescence. The only eftectual remedy is to unroll each 

 shoot by hand, and take out the little worm. The moth and its larva at leaving the 

 egg, and of full size, are represented in the engraving. (Plates Nos. 70 and 71) 



The rose-bug in some districts has been very troublesome. The Delaware vine 

 has shown a remarkable exemption from attack in numerous instances, when all the 

 other kinds have been greatly injured. Yines in gardens are sometimes attacked by 

 these little beetles in such numbers that the crops would be entirely destroyed if 

 neglected ; but large vineyards, where the vines are well trained, and kept free from 

 weeds, are rarely attacked so as to cause much damage. (Plate No. 72.) 



The only remedy, after tliey appear, is to pick them off by hand, or knock them 

 into a convenient vessel of water, which is speedily done. 



This, although somewhat troublesome, has been found much less so than would be 

 supposed before trial. 



Both the tent and spinner caterpillar sometimes feed upon the J'oung vines. The 

 former are easily suppressed by destroying the nests before the commencement of their 

 migratory course. The latter, comprising the large green naked caterpillars, are never 

 sufficiently numerous to be much feared, except in case of single young vines. They 

 are very gluttonous, and from their green color, not easily discovered, unless carefully 

 looked for, until their ravages have destroyed a large portion of a shoot. The name 

 Philampelus (Vine-lover) comes from its habit of feeding on the leaves of the Ampe- 

 lides generally, including the grape especially. The representation of it (Plate No. 73) 

 is taken from the excellent work of the late Mr. Harris. 



The brown aphis is another enemy also of little importance. It is an exceedingly 

 minute insect that sucks the juice of plants, and occasionally collects in such numbers 

 on a young shoot as to conceal a portion from sight. If the eiise occurs on a vine 

 with only one shoot, and that of special importance, the aphids may all be washed off 

 in one moment with a rag or sponge and soap-suds. Vineyardists remove tliem with 

 their hands at sight, and do not consider them of sufficient importance to be named. 

 Their destruction is ordinarily effected by pinching off a few inches of the tender shoot 

 and stamping it under foot, doing no injury to the vine. (Plate No. 7-1.) 



